Residents at Sugarloaf Condominiums in South Deerfield demand answers for high tax bills

SOUTH DEERFIELD — When Marsha Martin, president of the Sugarloaf Condominium Association, received her property tax bill for fiscal year 2026, she expected to face a roughly $382, or 6.5%, bump.

But after discovering a 39% hike of $2,772 over last fiscal year’s numbers, she was shocked.

Martin joined other Sugarloaf Condominiums residents at last week’s Deerfield Board of Assessors meeting to seek answers for the 35% to 40% jump in their property tax bills.

Due to the older age of residents at Sugarloaf Condominiums, higher rates of turnover are inevitable, the residents told the board. They stressed that bidding wars for the condos end in high sale prices due to the property’s desirability as a community for older residents and an accessible housing option, so they fear similar hikes in property tax bills in future years.

“We are headed in a bad direction,” said Sugarloaf Condominiums resident Doris Bardwell.

Lorna Benton sent the Board of Assessors data comparing the property assessment value per square foot at Sugarloaf Condominiums, an average of $333.85 per square foot, to other streets nearby. According to Martin’s calculations, the average assessment per square foot for homes on Crestview Drive came to 14.6% lower than Sugarloaf Condominiums and 42.74% lower at King Philip Avenue homes.

Board of Assessors Chair Francis “Skip” Sobieski said he noticed a high sale price for a condo in the complex, and although he expected an increase in the residents’ property tax bills, he did not anticipate a 30% to 40% jump, which is uncommon. Board member Charles “Chuck” Shattuck III clarified that the board considers the “overall population” when determining the tax rate each year and notes outliers, but the members do not “go line by line and review every property.”

“Shouldn’t this have been a red flag item?” Bardwell asked.

“If property values are going up because arm’s length sales are going up, it’s going to unfortunately drive home values up,” Shattuck replied.

Both Sobieski and Shattuck emphasized that their work on the board must abide by the state’s appraisal laws. According to Sobieski, tax abatements only apply to errors residents catch in assessments, including mistakes in the size or condition of a property, not issues with the entire appraisal process.

Members of the Board of Assessors plan to look into solutions within their jurisdiction and report back to the concerned residents in a letter. With inspections and remeasurements as potential next steps, Sobieski said the process will likely take “a little while.”

“What’s incorrect is that we feel unfairly singled out, that we have a prejudicial situation toward our community and our age group, and that’s different than an abatement,” Sugarloaf Condominiums resident Shirley Howard said.

“It’s a question of equity,” echoed Benton, who also lives at Sugarloaf Condominiums.

Regarding potential solutions at the state level, Martin mentioned S.2899, “An Act to Prevent Property Tax Bill Shocks,” that would amend Chapter 59 of Massachusetts General Laws to include additions like “senior qualifying property.” The state Senate passed the bill on Jan. 15 and it now goes to the House for approval.

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